Hamlet , a play by William Shakespeare, about a young prince looking for revenge , has inspired audiences for many years and been the subject of many theories. A revenge play , to some an expression of the Oedipus complex ,for others , and a simple yet tragic tale of a hero . I see it as the turbulence a person has to go through, once their ignorance is no longer blissful. It is a journey into the stressful and challenging loss of Innocence that self-awareness can bring about and a window into the reality of the soul’s education .
For the sake of this written piece , lets look at Hamlet as someone who has come of age , and looking at the world with a new vision . A more wholesome vision , one filled with cleverness , insight and melancholy .
The play is a treasure of philosophy, wisdom , and well crafted poetic genius, and although being a renaissance play it has been praised for characteristically being post modern because of the psychological and emotional depth the characters have .
In this world we live in – knowledge, intelligence and intellect are highly respected, valued and envied . The intelligent, according to some, are the ones who survive. The reason man believed himself to be above all other species is because he was able to think. Man became the ultimate species due to the size of his brain , up to the point were some scientists were actually measuring the circumference of skulls among the different races of man . But there is a dark side to this wonder , a realm filled with sacrifices , nihilism, cynicism, anxiety, madness and cruelty .
All of which we explore through Hamlet.
The play opens with the presence of Fortinbras and the ghost . Fortinbras is the angel of death and the reminder of something rotten in Denmark . The ghost is the symbol of knowledge, madness and an exclusive higher intellect .
Regarding the murder of the late king , only Hamlet and Claudius , his uncle ,know the truth, that Claudius poisoned him to become king . They remain the most anxious and suspicious throughout the play , because they have something to hide , and as result their behavior remains a mystery to the rest of the characters who are oblivious to the ‘ rotten matter’
Hamlet is the noble holder of knowledge, seeking nothing but justice and revenge for his father , while Claudius is like a Machiavellian intellectual, who uses spies and words to control or get on Hamlet’s nerves . He later humanizes Hamlet by calling him mad in order to turn others against him. There is no art in Hamlet, in the beginning of the play, he is honest and blunt . He only shows a more a sly disposition when tries to match his uncle in scheming or plotting .
” I know not seems “
Hamlet our main intellectual in his rather numbed aggressive state of being unable to make peace with his surroundings , is always restless . Questioning events, heaven and morality – he never acts or claims to not have enough knowledge, despite continuously manifesting his intelligence to the others.
His conflict is being too unfeeling, filled with so many thoughts and hazards that prevent him from raw emotions. Time and time again he reminds himself to remain calm and think over the situation and act civilized and controlled. This very behavior disturbs him, and is the cause of his self-pity and self loathing .
“But break my heart , for I must hold my tongue “
“Let me not take corruption “
“I must not kill him in prayer “
” oh heart lose not thy nature ”
Polonius is the foolish intellectual – full of sage wisdom and gives the most memorable advice in the play .
” To thine own self be true “
He is , however , unable to think outside the box and Hamlet looks down on him.
“Tedious old fools”
The intellectual that is sharp looks down on the lesser born children of the intelligent world .
The ghost’s revelations are a heavy burden on Hamlets health. The ghost uses expressions like ‘freeze young blood ‘ , and ‘ hair to stand at end ‘ to describe the physical change or shock that Hamlet experiences while learning the truth.
Stress , worry and anxiety all have physical ailments , and can trouble a person to the point of weakness or laziness .
Later Hamlet encounters Ophelia , in the rags of a frightened, troubled , shaken mad man burdened with the horrid reality of the world . It is not just mental torture but physically moving and tormenting. How many men and women have looked at the face of this world and been altered by the abyss that stares back . Haunting, until it takes us .
He also has to empty himself of everything he once knew to be true in order to accept this new knowledge – even if he does not completely believe the ghost .
” I’ll wipe away all trivial records “
His mind will have to do so , in order not to disagree with this new obsession .
Knowledge also robs Hamlet of his ethics and shame . He sees everyone as a toy . He feels no guilt for the death of his friends or the death of Polonius . He is insensitive to their feelings and unaware of the damage he is causing .
Characters like Sherlock Holmes are also said to be innocently insensitive , just like Hamlet who cannot see the harm he is causing his mother or Ophelia their minds are forever occupied with a certain kind of knowledge that they are unable to conceive any other kind and often lack people skills .
Hamlet knows the trappings of life too much , his character remains the same till the end of the play . The same for all of them, there is no development. This is his tragedy. The inability to achieve something . A tragic hero is one whose fall makes the audience either gasp or wonder why , someone so inspirational became a disappointment.
Intellect kills itself in logic and reason when it proves itself to be useless . Reason and cynicism do not inspire them to act for the better . It cripples their soul , they come to know too much and care to little and see how the small charity will not reach the hungry .
This supernaturally informed and brave prince is crippled by his thoughts , he could have killed Claudius when he was repenting , but decided not to because he believed it would send him to heaven .
” The problem with the world is that , stupid people are full of confidence, while the intelligent are full of doubts “
— Charles Bukowski
Like Moses did not wish to go save the Hebrews, he was too aware of the deceit, power and corruption he would have to face for the greater good . He knew very well what he would be up against .
Cynicism and nihilism overtake these characters.
” I have of late lost all my mirth “
The very life in them is sucked out by the ugly truth , the duality of human nature and the possibility of every friend being an enemy . All of Hamlet’s speeches are a question and are also like a sophisticated suicide note , one that he can only wish to commit.
” To be or not to be “
Since education numbs emotion and logic tames the wolf in man to a slow , painless death that goes unnoticed. Hamlet is now wondering where his spirit is , his anger ? The substance of force and feelings that should compel him towards impulsive action. He is particularly jealous of an actor and soldier for having more emotions.
” oh what a rogue peasant am I “
Hamlet is much too poised and ashamed of his ‘ unpregnant ‘ hate .
He answers so much yet remains a question – the more he learns the more empty he becomes , like his mother’s sexual appetite.
“Grew with what it fed on ”
Then madness . Everyone sees Hamlet as mentally unstable, Ophelia, Polonius and his parents believe so.
Madness , itself has been linked with high brain activity, thus the stereotype of the mad scientist . They all gaze at him in wonder .
“This is madness , but there is method in it “
“Madness in great ones must not unwatched go “
It is only when Ophelia goes insane , that she becomes outspoken and is confident in what she knows . While at most times , she only listens to what her brother ,father and Hamlet tell her , without any conflict or opposition . She even says something like , I do not know what I should think .
” that’s for thoughts ”
During this time Hamlet is off at sea , which is a symbol of the psyche. He comes home a new man while Ophelia has drowned . Hamlet beats his madness while Ophelia drowns in hers .
Horatio the best friend and Ophelia the romantic interest , are like toys or imaginary figures are used as objects of projection for Hamlet’s feelings towards his parents.While with Horatio he talks about his father in a grand and loving ,respectable manner , as if he was the greatest of all men and with Ophelia he complains about his mother , someone who only has his interest in mind and loves him dearly and mocks women in general, because he feels that by marrying his uncle only months after his father’s death is unfaithfulness on her side.
“Brief like women’s love ”
He uses both of them but trusts Horatio while tormenting Ophelia, by using her . Horatio and Ophelia are also never in the same scene together until she is dead.
They are vessels for the prince to fill up with his philosophy. Hamlet is the one to tell them stories and fill their minds.
” there is more in the heavens and earth , than can be dreamed of in our imagination”
Hamlet is also unable to love or express himself , he confesses his love to Ophelia when it is too late . The same with his mother, he spends most of his time ranting about her bit cannot explain to her the reason for his anger . He decided not to trust anyone with information of the murder, not Horatio and the guards, the Queen or anyone , and guarding it so was angry at everyone for not seeing the crime right in front of his eyes .
He only has one request at the end
“Tell my story ”
To which we bid him goodnight .
The entire play asks the question ” what good is intellect? What purpose does it serve ? What problem does it solve ?
Dr Faustus sold his soul for forbidden knowledge and did nothing . Medea is scorned for her knowledge of spells and herbs , the devil in paradise lost insists that God loves Adam and Eve more because they are dumb and it was after they ate from the tree of knowledge that they were cast out . Daisy from the Great Gatsby wants her daughter to grow up to be .. a beautiful little fool .
Baba Bulleh Shah asks us
” you read thousands of books did you ever read yourself ?
With the final entry of Fortinbras the madness is nowhere to be seen .
Maheen's Muse 